Cage for ball bearings



A. H. LINDE CAGE FOR BALL BEARINGS Aug. 9, 1927. 1,638,538

Filed Nov.- 17, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Y B My, WM

4' ATTORNEY Aug. 9, 1927. 38

A. H. LINDE CAGE FOR BALL BEARINGS Filed Nov. 17, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2[5 INVEN'IOR 4, ATTORNEY Patented. Aug. 9, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE.

' ANDREW 11. 11mm, or PHILADELPHIA. PENNSYLVANIA, AssIeNon TO THE nss-BRIGHT MANUFACTURING COMPANY, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A

CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

CAGE ron nALL BnAn INGs.

Continuation of applications Serial No. 82,569, filed January 20, 1926,and SerialNo. 121,511, filed July 10,

' 1926. This application filed November 17, 1926. Serial No. 148,782.

The object of this invention is to provide a specially designed cage orball separator for use between the balls in an antifriction bearing inwhich the separator is applied to the balls after these are assembled inthe race grooves between .a pair of rings and equally spaced. The cageis particularly useful in connection with the two row deep groove radialtype of bearing.

' The preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawingsis represented as drawn from sheet metal and presents two concentricsubstantially cylindrical rings or plates disposed face to face andconnected at one edge, making a structure substantially U-shaped incross section, although rather flattened. In the edges of the plates atthe open or unconnected side of the structure there are formed open ballpockets. The depth of the pocket is somewhat more than half the balldiameter. During the forming operation the metal surrounding therecesses for the pockets and the free edges of the plates between thepockets is 95 extruded in the form of flanges. The extrusion of metalfrom the outer plate is preferably projected outwardly and that from theinner plate projected inwardly, this being the most convenient method,"articular so 1y when the plates are pressed rat or closely together. Thewidth of the opening to the pocket is less than the diameter of theballs. 0 give the structure sufficient elasticity to snap over theballs, notches are formed in the edges of the plates between thepockets, these notches extending through the flanges. The notches in theportions between the mouths of the pockets impart compressibility tothem, facilitating assembly by merely pressing. the cage against theballs, which snap into positlon in the pockets. The edges of the flangesat the notches constitute engaging faces for a tool for spreading themetal on each side of the notch away A from such notch, or rather, for"closing upthe flange upon the 'balls after the cages have beenassembled.

' In the drawings forming part of this application one practicableembodiment of the invention is illustrated, in which drawmgs i lgure 1shows 1n perspectives: cage or separator formed in accordance with myinvention, the view being taken ,from the closed side; this sidebeingthe one seen from the outside of the hearing when the separator is inits assembled posit-ionin a two .row bearing. V

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the separator viewed from the open side.

Fig. 3 is a central sectional view of the separator taken at about theplane of the line 33 Fig.2. 7

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail showing the manner of inserting the balls.

Fig. 5 is an elevation of a bearing equipped with the improvedseparator.

Figs. 6 and '7 are details showing. the manner in which the separatormay be tightly closed upon the balls in some instances. 7 The bearingrings 8 and 9' shown by way of illustration herein are of the deepgrooveunnotched type, which are intended to be assembled with the twosets of balls, 10 and 11, by the Conrad or eccentric method. In

this method of assembly as is well known the balls are placed betweenthe rings in proper spaced position in the race grooves prior to theapplication of the cage or spacing device.

When the cageofmypresentfiiiventionis assembled in a two row bearing ofthis type, the cage for-each row is presented from the outside with theconnected edges, 14, of the plates, 12 and 13, directed outwardly.-Preferably the pockets are so proportioned that" the balls snap in, thepockets then being closed or lapped about theballs in a manner presentlyto be described. According to the present invention the cage for eachrow of balls is formed of a single piece of sheet metal which upon beingapplied to the balls from the outside is secured in position by thepockets being closed or lapped about the balls.- In a two row bearingof-this type it is quite obvious that withthe two rows of balls, asclosely related as they are in the showing in Figs. 6 and 7, which bythe way, 1

is substantially in proportion to the S. A. E. standard dimensions forwide series bearings; the separators must -of necessity be applied fromthe outside and the structure must be such that the upsetting ordeforming instrument, when one is used,- can enter drawn from a singlepieceof sheet metal and forms two substantially cylindrical rings or 3plates, 12 and 13, united at one edge by a Ill V and the flanges impartscompressibility to forming flanges, 16 and lhissuclrthat they der thecage.

told, 14:. This fold, 14,.is really thebottom or connectingmember madeby the drawing dies. A series of notches for affording ball pockets, 15,are formed in the free edges of the plates. The metal during theoperation of forming these pockets is extruded into a flange directedaway from the respective plates. When these plates are formed quiteclose together, as shown herein, the extruded metal is directed towardthe outer faces of the plates. Or in other words, the flange, 16, fromthe outer plate is directed outwardly and the flange 17, from the innerplate is directed inwardly. The flanges upon the respective plates areshown extending entirely around each of the notches and forming part ofthe ball pockets, 15. The flanges also are' mouths and entering for asuitable distance into the plates, 12 and 13. I

The interruption of the edges of the plates the structure between the'mouths of the t pockets, and also permits the lapping or fold- 'Thedepth of each .pocket is preferably somewhat greater'than half thediameter of the ball intended to be seated therein, and the curvature ofthe inner face of the pocket extend above and below the great circle ofthe ball-so that the cage will not permit a ball to either undulydepress or raise the cage,,that is, the ball cannot ride over or un- Thewidth of the mouth or opening to the pocket is less than the diameter ofsuch ball, the corners 22-22 and 23-23 of the flanges being adapted, tooverlap the ball. Or, stated differently, the. walls of the socket atany selected plane will be found to-comprise a segment of more than 180degrees, and the chord across the mouth at such selected plane to belessthan the diameter of the circle of the intended ball onsuch plane.After the balls have been assembled between the rings, and properlyspaced apart, the cage is brought into such a position that the corners22-22 and 23-23 at the entrance of the various pockets engage the balls,

whereupon inward. pressure opens the the outer edges or mouths maybethen further lapped about the balls, the notches,- 20-21, being spreadapart and the flanges. at the outer edges or mouths of the pocketslapped about the balls. In Figs. 6 and 7 is illustrated a convenientmethod for closing the cage upon the balls. A ring, 25, is shownprovided with a series of fingers, 26 and 27, adapted to enter the spacebetween the ball pockets and to straddle the plates, and by means oftheir wedge formation to enter between the interrupted ends of theflanges, 18-18 and 19-19 and spread the notches, moving the flanges andthe metal'of the plates supporting the same bodily into such a positionthat the flanges, 16, and 17, are lapped about the balls. During thisspreading movement the angle of the corners formed. by the flanges 16-18and 17-19 is not changed.

The interruption inthe plates and flanges between the ball pocketspermits sufficient deformation to permit the pockets to open and receivethe balls and then to close about the balls, and also permits of thenotches being further opened and the ball pockets further closed byanoperation which gives a permanent set to the structure.

This application is filed as a continuation of'and in substitution forapplications, Serial No. 82,569 filed by me on January 20th, 1926 andSerial No. 121,511 filed by me on July 0th,-1926.

I It is to be understood that various changes in construction may bemade within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit ofthis invention.

' Having described my invention I claim and desire to secure by LettersPatent:

1. A spacing cage for ball bearings comprising a flat body portionprovided in'its edge with o en notches, and having flanges projectingoutwardly' from the edges of said notches laterally beyond the faces ofthe,

pendent structure, the flanges being contin-' nod and extending alongthe edge of the body between sockets.

2. A spacing cage for ball bearings comprising a flat body ortionprovided in its edge with open notc es, and having flanges projectingoutwardly from the edges ofsaid notches laterally beyond the faces ofthe body portion and constituting conjointly ball-holding sockets, theflanges being con- .tinued and extending along the edge of the bodybetween sockets, the edges of thebody portion and the extending flangebeing interrupted fmidway between sockets for affording spaces andengaging faces for a closing tool.

3. A spacing cage for ball bearings consisting of a folded body portionpresenting two plates disposed face to face and provided at intervals intheir edges with open notches, and having flanges extending outwardlyfrom the notches laterally beyond the faces of the plates andconstituting conjointly ball holding sockets, the flanges bemg continuedand extending along the edges of the plates between sockets.

I 4. A s acing cage for ball bearings consisting o a folded body portionpresenting two plates disposed face to face and provided at intervals intheir free edges with open notches, and having flanges extendingoutwardly from the notches laterally beyond the faces of the plates andconstituting con,- jointly ball holding sockets, the flanges beingcontinued and extending along the edges of the pla es between sockets,the edges of the plates and the extending flanges being interruptedmidway between sockets for affording spaces and engaging faces for aclosing tool.

5. A spacing cage for ball bearings consisting of a folded body portionpresenting two plates disposed face to face and provided at intervals intheir free edges with open notches, and having flanges extendingoutwardly from the notches laterally beyond the faces of-the lates andconstituting conjointly ball hol mg sockets, the flanges being continuedand extending along the edges of the plates between sockets theextending flanges being interrupted midway between sockets, the ends ofthe flanges at each interruption affording spaces and engaging faces atboth sides open for the reception of a closing tool applied from theopposite edge simultaneously to both flanges.

6. A spacing cage for ball bearings consisting o a folded body portionpresenting two plates disposed face to face, the plates being providedin their free edges with open notches and having flanges extendingoutwardly from the notches laterally beyond the faces of the plates andconstituting conjointly ball holding sockets, the walls of the socket atany plane comprising a segment of more than 180 degrees and the openspace for the mouth at such plane being less than the diameter of theintended ball thereat, the edges of the plates and the extending flangesbeing interrupted between the sockets for imparting compressibility andexpansibility to the structure between-the said mouths.

Signed at the cityof Philadelphia, Pa. this 12th day of November, 1926.

ANDREW H. LINDE.

